In a dramatic career move that has sent shockwaves through English football, Rob Edwards has abandoned a promising Championship promotion campaign with Middlesbrough to take charge of Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers.
An Emotional Return to Molineux
The 42-year-old manager made the difficult decision to depart Middlesbrough, where his team sat second in the Championship table, for a club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League with just two points from their opening eleven matches.
Edwards boasts deep connections with Wolves, having made over 100 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2008 as a player. His relationship with the Molineux side continued beyond his playing days, including a stint as caretaker manager in 2016 and various coaching roles.
"I Didn't Want to Regret It"
Speaking at his inaugural press conference, Edwards was candid about his reasoning behind the controversial move. "I know I was in a great job at Middlesbrough. Great people and very good players who have done well. So I'm aware of it," he acknowledged.
"But this is something I have wanted to do for a very, very long time. I didn't know if this opportunity would come up again for me to be the head coach of this club."
The manager revealed his fear of future regret heavily influenced his decision. "I didn't want to look back in 10, 15 or 20 years time that I turned down chance to manage Wolves in the Premier League. I didn't want to regret that."
He added with conviction: "I will not lie, it has been an aim of mine since I got the under 18s job. It is something I've always wanted to do."
Addressing the Middlesbrough Departure
Edwards didn't shy away from acknowledging the likely disappointment at his former club. "I know they won't be happy but I understand it. We were doing well but what am I supposed to do? Give me another 30 games and wait?" he questioned rhetorically.
"The opportunity came along and it's something I wanted to do. Sometimes in life you've got to look after you," Edwards explained. "It was difficult but this place pulled me in."
His first test comes immediately with a Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday, where he'll begin the formidable task of closing Wolves' eight-point gap to safety.
